Saturday, 7 October 2017

So, I am a little confused about something. What’s with this
“Thoughts and Prayers” phrase that one often hears touted everywhere? The “Prayers”
part I get, so long as it’s genuine and not just another pat christianese
mantra, but the “Thoughts” part? What’s with that? What does that even mean?

Someone’s going through some difficulty in their life, and
the pseudo feel-good answer they get from a would-be well-wisher is “Thoughts
and Prayers?” Am I missing something here? If we are men and women of faith,
then by all means let’s pray for one another. Obviously that’s even biblical.
“The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous
power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16; Amplified).

Yes, by all means let’s be people of prayer.

But what good are “Thoughts” in dealing with someone’s
crisis or misfortune? Are good thoughts better than bad thoughts or no
thoughts? Some poor single mom can’t afford to feed her kids, or someone is
sick and/or dying, or unemployed, or depressed and burned out; are my
“Thoughts” about their predicament going to change anything? “Prayers” will, if
it pleases the Lord; but “Thoughts?” Sorry if this sounds a little crass, but
“Thoughts and Prayers” seems somewhat hokey-pokey to me.

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily
food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’
but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way,
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2: 15-17;
NIV)

In other words, forget the “Thoughts” part and actually do
something.

Maybe this saying/mantra needs to be reworded. As suggested
by the cartoon above and by James 2, perhaps we should scrap the “Thoughts and
Prayers” in favour of “Deeds and Prayers.” Perhaps instead of just thinking
about a problem someone has, we actually go and do something about it. No, God
isn’t calling us to save the world, but as proof of our faith, perhaps He is
calling us to do our little part in the corner of this rock called Earth that
He’s planted us in. Someone once said, “Bloom where you are Planted.” In other
words, don’t just have good “Thoughts” for someone. Bloom and make a
difference where you are, but do something. Words and "Thoughts" alone are cheap.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt
loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matthew 5: 13; NIV).

“Thoughts” alone are like salt that has lost its saltiness,
“It is no longer good for anything.” Forget “Thoughts and Prayers” and start
thinking (no pun intended) “Deeds and Prayers.”

The “Prayers” of true faith will always be accompanied, not
with “Thoughts,” but with deeds and action. Just thinking (just having good "Thoughts") is useless unless it leads to doing good.

Yes, do something; don’t just think
about it, unless of course, you only want others to share their good "Thoughts" with you and do nothing to help you in your predicament if the shoe were on the other foot. I guess it all comes down to the proverbial Golden Rule. "Thoughts and Prayers?" Hmm. 😕

Disclaimer

"Rethinking Faith and Church" may not be right for everyone, and especially not those who are unable to look at Christian faith from outside of the religious status quo that is sometimes called institutionalism. Here you will find a plethora of posts that will challenge you, hopefully encourage you, and quite possibly even upset you from time to time. You may even find a chuckle or two from some of the more satirical posts. Offence is not intended, but as with all "rethinking," sometimes toes do get stepped on. In the end, hopefully it's all done in love and for the glory of God. For more about this blog, please click on the 'Caution' sign above. Thanks for the visit. Peace and Blessings.